Levels of serum nerve growth factor in schizophrenia

There is a significant decrease in the relative levels of NGF activity and NGF antigen in sera from schizophrenic patients when compared to controls. Another significant finding is the different ratios of active NGF to total NGF found in sera from schizophrenic patients. In both schizophrenic males and females there is a significant increase in the NGF activity detected as active relative to the total NGF present. This may be due to differences in the structure of the NGF species present which would be reflected in its ability to dissociate, or it may be due to other components in the sera from schizophrenic patients which would affect dissociation of the complex. Since it is clear that there is an overall depression of NGF levels, it is likely that there are less NGF molecules present. In order to establish this premise it will be necessary to carry out RIA of sera using antibodies directed against human NGF. If further studies of NGF levels in sera from schizophrenic patients confirm these findings, it may be that administration of human NGF could prove to have therapeutic value as Wise. suggested by Stein and wise.